The Best of Manners

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) “I have been sent to perfect the best of manners.” This idea always makes me wonder if as parents we are teaching our children “the best of manners.” Just saying “please and thank you” is not good enough, when Islam has taught us that having good manners means not being fault finding, suspicious, and rude to others.

Amazingly enough, aunties that tend to comment about the bad manners of others’ children have the rudest offspring running around themselves!! Having good manners is the essence of our deen. Having this wonderful quality includes exuding a kind and humble demeanor. Allah says in the Quran: “And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not any arrogant boaster” (Surah Luqman:18).

Islam is a comprehensive source of becoming the best versions of ourselves. Following the path of Allah can lead us to understanding that people who lack manners cannot be strong in their faith. Allah, The Most Gracious, even considers smiling, a source of charity. Not only that, visiting the sick, forgiving others, showing care and concern for people in general, are all a part of having good manners.

Another form of having proper etiquette is by ascertaining that we should not criticize people. Anas Ibn Malik related: "I served the Prophet of Allah for ten years. During that time, he never once said to me as much as 'Uff' if I did something wrong. He never asked me, if I had failed to do something, 'Why did you not do it?' and he never said to me, if I had done something wrong, 'Why did you do it?'" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Similarly another Hadith states: “Do not spend your time finding fault with one another." (Al-Bukhari). If as Muslims we stop finding faults in each other’s actions, words and deeds, perhaps we can once again become a force that needs to be reckoned with! After all, as ambassadors of Islam isn’t it our job to portray the best of manners??!!